About the Venue

In the incredible city of Pasadena, you will find a lot of amazing things. One of them is The Athenaeum. Travel back in time to this historic landmark at the California Institute of Technology. The stately building and grounds offer exquisite venues for weddings who wish to have an historically rich and beautiful setting.
The reverence and beauty of the property flows out of the photographs. In fact, 81 years ago on February 4, 1931, The Athenaeum held its first formal dinner party for Elsa and Albert Einstein's visit to the Institute! The history of the estate is recognized in many ways. The Mediterranean-style architecture makes an old-world, romantic backdrop for your photography. It's easy to incorporate the timeless tradition with your own unique style. Plus, your morning preparations can be held in the ornate Mezzanine parlor.

Ask the Expert

Photographer Henry Chen lends us an insider's perspective on photographing weddings at this beautiful property:

What makes shooting a wedding at The Anthenaeum so special is the variety of sceneries you get to place your bride and groom in for photos. Situated right in the middle of the Cal Tech campus, you have everything from the nature settings to the architectural. You have the wide open spaces on the lawn to capture the bride and groom's first look and bridal party photos, but also the shaded areas underneath trees and next to buildings for family formals when the sun may be right above.

The Anthenaeum is also minutes away from Old Town Pasadena, where folks can stay if traveling from out of town or even meet up somewhere for the wedding after-party. But once you step foot on the venue, you'll feel like you're in a completely different place, far away from the city and more like in a Spanish or Italian countryside. Its peaceful and beautiful backdrop allows it to be a great location for either a small or large wedding, as well as a photographer's playground.